Rise of the Phoenix - Apocalypse Rebirth

Chapter 32 - The Chens

May 20, 3031 - Country M, City LA

Early the next morning the Chens were all at the office bright and early. They notified all the employees to take the day off before locking down the security of the building and blocking all access below the A level. A client stressing confidentiality with a $10B project would not want unnecessary eyes on him. Regardless of whether they will take on the project or not.

Aria arrived at 10am and was escorted into the building by John.

John: "Mr. Aries Wang, please meet my family, Joseph Chen, Melanie Shu, and David Chen. Everyone, this is Aries Wang."

Aria: "It's nice to meet everyone. Thank you for meeting me so quickly. I assume you have some questions for me?"

Joseph: "Yes, would you be able to provide more details of your project? So we can understand the scope of the work?"

Aria took out 4 NDAs and passed them over the table. Each quickly looked over the paperwork then signed their signatures. David immediately made copies and handed back the originals to Aria before settling down. Everyone looked over at Aria expectantly. The young man in front of them had pretty eyes and clear skin. The face was still soft and rounded due to youth, looking slightly feminine but the aura he projected is strong and heavy. Joseph's eyes deepened in contemplation at the curious character in front of them. Aria played with the rings on her finger as she started talking.

Aria: "I would like to stress that what I say moving forward is highly confidential. I want your family to be in charge of upgrading and re-outfitting 3 battlecruisers. I want power to be pulled from two different sources: one from the main ship's energy core and second from the EOS energy packs.

The energy packs should be the main energy source unless the captain commands otherwise. Living quarters would be remodeled and many new facilities will be added. Exterior will be upgraded with Kin's solar shield. The goals for any upgrade or build should answer 3 questions:

Could this cruiser survive 2 years of constant attacks against other battleships?

Does this cruiser have enough power and resources to attack others for 2 years?

Can the cruiser be self-sufficient if closed off to the outside world for 2 years?"

Melanie experienced a feeling of vertigo for a few seconds after Aria's last question. It sounds like this young man is preparing for war. She worriedly squeezed Joseph's hand and he patted it back comfortingly.

I want a 4 story house built to a specific style. It should be a large square with a sizable courtyard in the middle of the 2nd story. Missile proof glass should cover the whole courtyard from the 2nd story to the 4th story. The roof of the 4th story should be able to cover the courtyard in case of emergency. The exterior of the building should also use Kin's solar shield. The house would not be cemented to the ground but tethered by the shield to the ground.

Basically the house should be moveable. I want 15 houses built exactly the same and 1 in which I will work closely with you to customize. The 3 ships will be stored underground and the houses will be on top forming a small gated and secure neighborhood."

David: "Question. Where would you want all of these things mentioned built?"

Aria: "I want them to be built in Country M using 4 different groups of contractors from outside Country M. I would prefer they do not speak the same language and have nothing to do with one another. But the final location will be in Country C. Once everything is transported and hidden in Country C, then our business concludes. The deadline for the completion of the project is 1.5 years but if you can finish it in 6 months, the payment is the same."

John: "With a project this large, it should flag a few people... especially the amount of materials we will need to procure."

Aria: "Don't worry about that. I have my own connections and will provide all the materials moving forward. If there is anything specific that you need, either buy one as a sample or bring me to the place where it's made. The only way that anyone would find out what I'm getting built all depends on you 4."

David: "What do you mean?"

Aria: "I need you all to put your life on hold for the duration of this project. I need you 4 to work under a different alias and look. If people got wind of what you are working on, then it will get back to me. And I am paying you to not get it back to me. As for people finding out about your involvement, I can 100% say that your life will be in danger and there would be nowhere to hide."

Joseph: "Are you threatening us?"

Aria: "No, I am not. The reality of this situation is that I, your client, want 3 battlecruisers upgraded and built to be self sustaining for unknown amounts of years. It will be hidden underground and a whole neighborhood of moveable houses that are very much built similar to a bunker made to sustain unknown attacks will be on top. The money being poured into this is in the Billions and your client somehow is able to procure ALL materials required for the project without triggering any alerts throughout the world should tell you something about my capabilities. I am one person and can easily disappear under anyone's eyes and questions. You are a family of 4, 8 including your elders. So when I say, "putting your life on hold", I really do mean it.

Tell people you're traveling abroad, someone is sick, taking a long deserved vacation across the world as a family, or even stay here and continue your regular life. As long as your name and identity is not tied to my project, then your family would be 100% safe."

The atmosphere froze under the young man's words. His fingers still absentmindedly playing with the rings while the meeting room's tension rises.

Melanie: "How much are you paying for our 1-1.5 years of silence?"

Aria: "Correction. I will be paying you for your service, keeping silent is your company's business motto and in the NDA we just signed."

Melanie: "I stand corrected."

Aria: "I don't lack money. I just lack people who I can trust. So name your price. I'll wait outside."

During the discussion, Aria repeatedly removed ring after ring from her fingers and placed them on the table. Stacking them and then placing them in a row then a shape of a flower all close together. She stood up and took out a bottle of water as she walked out of the meeting room, leaving the rings behind on the table.

----

Although the Chen family had discussed in depth what salary they wanted to earn based on the situation, now thinking that they might be doing something that will put them in harm's way... they are now hesitant. They looked at their charging chart which they used as a reference for pricing for a project.

John opened the door and welcomed Aria back in. The young man walked past him and John could smell a light citrus scent as Aries walked by. This is also the first time John noticed how much shorter the young man was. Almost like a teenager about to sprout.

Joseph: "We have decided to accept your project with a total price tag of $10M. We can start right away since time is of the essence. We have a contract that you will need to sign, please take a look."

David pushed over the prepared paperwork and Aria quickly made S3 look through them for anything unusual. Aria then picked up the paper and under a misc. line, she wrote down 2 rings which she will allow them to borrow for the project's duration. Once the project is completed, the 2 rings will be handed back in the same condition they were in or the Chen will compensate $50M each ring.

Aria passed back the paper and Melanie glanced at the stack of rings Aria is currently gathering. She agreed and placed her initials next to the additional sentence. The rest of the men did as well before passing back to Aria.

Aria signed it, each member of the Chen family signed it and a copy was made. Joseph offered his hand out and shook Aria's hand with a smile on his face.

Joseph, Melanie, John, David: "Happy Cooperation."

Aria: "Happy Cooperation! Now, let's get down to business. Do you have a warehouse on location we can go to?"

David: "We have a small warehouse downstairs. Follow me, please."